Earthquake Preparedness: 7 Simple Tips for Cell Phone Users (NY Times)

Wednesday, October 14, 2009

New York Times

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This year marks the 20th anniversary of the Loma Prieta earthquake. On October 17, 2009, Verizon Wireless will participate in the Bay Area's The Big Rumble, a weeklong series of events designed to connect our communities with preparedness resources to make it an everyday part of our lives.

Earthquakes and other natural disasters can strike at any time. Preparedness is key for individuals, families and businesses. In preparation for The Big Rumble, Verizon Wireless offers the following cell phone tips in the event of earthquakes:

    --  Know how to use call forwarding at home.  If you have to evacuate,
        forward your home phone calls to your cell phone.
    --  Conserve battery power and free-up wireless networks for emergency
        response agencies by limiting non-emergency calls.
    --  Keep a car-charger in your vehicle in case you must evacuate.
    --  Save emergency phone numbers in your cell phone for one-touch dialing.
    --  Store back-up batteries for electronic devices, including your cell
        phone.
    --  Consider using text messages to communicate.
    --  Understand your cell phone's capabilities:  email, weather updates and
        news reports are all tools that can help after a disaster.

    --  Small business owners can help employees stay connected to the Internet,
        email and company databases with high-speed data services for laptops.

To learn more, visit the Verizon Wireless booth on the Marina Green during The Big Rumble Preparedness Fair in San Francisco from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on Saturday, October 17, 2009.

For more tips on preparing an emergency communications plan, please visit the Verizon Wireless Emergency Information Center http://news.vzw.com/criticalevents/index.html. For more information on The Big Rumble, visit http://www.thebigrumble.org/.

About Verizon Wireless

Verizon Wireless operates the nation's most reliable and largest wireless voice and data network, serving 87.7 million customers. Headquartered in Basking Ridge, N.J., with more than 87,000 employees nationwide, Verizon Wireless is a joint venture of Verizon Communications (NYSE: VZ) and Vodafone (NYSE and LSE: VOD). For more information, visit www.verizonwireless.com. To preview and request broadcast-quality video footage and high-resolution stills of Verizon Wireless operations, log on to the Verizon Wireless Multimedia Library at www.verizonwireless.com/multimedia.

SOURCE Verizon Wireless
 

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The Big Rumble™ Goals

The Big Rumble is dedicated to helping the Bay Area and the state of California become more aware of the risks we face from earthquakes, be informed about what can be done and how we, as a community, can be prepared for future quakes and other natural disasters. We aim to accomplish this by way of three approaches. First is the organization and hosting of a bi-annual event called The Big Rumble Resource Fairs and Block Parties. These are held each October and April around the anniversaries of the Loma Prieta and 1906 quakes and promote community building, awareness, preparedness and information. Second, The Big Rumble partners with cities to promote other preparedness-related events and to share local information with citizens. Finally and most importantly, The Big Rumble provides ongoing readiness tools through its website, preparedness check list, newsletters and other points of contact to help users become and stay prepared for future seismic events in our area. It is our hope that The Big Rumble will become a trusted source of information for Bay Area families and communities.
 
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